A student wrote to me: “I graduated last year but could not find a job. After reading your blog, I wished that I knew about it when I started college so I do not have this problem. I am desperate and do not know what to do. Please help.”

Answer: Since you did not mention your field of study, I do not know how to advise you. However, this is not the time to feel desperate but having the courage to move forward. The first thing to do is to identify what you are good at, and what you are less good at. (i.e., You need to be honest with yourself ).

Look at all the companies that you want to work for and the skills they require for the jobs that you want. Ask yourself: “Do I have these skills? If you have, can you prove to them that you are good at these skills? If you do not, then find out where can you learn these skills? Is it possible to learn these skills online? Is it possible to go back to school to learn about them? (i.e., You need to be realistic and honest with yourself ).

You may follow industry news about the skills shortage in the local job market to identify which skills are in high demand and find a specific skill that fits your interest then put in the effort to learn it. (i.e., Whether you learn from online tutorials or from a school.) Because technology changes fast, some companies may need people with specific skills, especially skills that not many people have. You may need to acquire those skills and demonstrate to the companies that you have what they need. If the job requires experience you may convince them that you are willing to volunteer to work for a few months to prove that you can do the job. The experience you gained from that work may help you to get the job. If not, you can use that experience to apply for another job in other companies.

When applying for the job, you need to think about how you present yourself to potential employers. Make sure your CV or résumé is well-written. A strong CV could get you an interview where you can demonstrate that you are capable and ready to work.